Adjustable cylinder support for rotary printing mechanism



J. T. DAVIDSON I Aug. 6, 1957 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARYPRINTING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l n- J In INVENTORJOHN T. DAVIDSON 1957 J. T. DAVIDSON 2,801,584

ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Filed May 2a,1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN T. DAVIDSON United States atent Cfilice 2,801,584 Patented Aug. 6,1957 ADJUSTABLE CYLINDER SUPPORT FOR ROTARY PRINTING MECHANISM Thisinvention relates to adjustable cylinder support for rotary imprintingmachines, and more particularly to a mounting for the printing roll orcylinder facilitating installation and interchange thereof.

A roll imprinter of a kind to which the invention is particularlyadapted imprints business forms and is required to operate upon forms ofdifferent length. It must, therefore, be capable of a wide range ofadjustment for a change of imprint subject matter and for a change inthe effective length thereof.

The instant invention proposes to achieve this flexibility of adjustmentby an interchange of printing cylinders, and it is the purpose of theinvention to enable a quick and easy exchange of cylinders of the samesize, as well as the substitution ofa cylinder of one size for acylinder of another size.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of imprinting machines whereby they maynot only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient in useuniform in operation, capable of adjustment over a. wide range, having aminimum number of working parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel support for theprinting cylinder, adjustable to compen- ;sate for the installation ofprinting cylinders of different diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively rigidsupport for the printing cylinder, including a part accessible forswinging movement to a position exposing the printing cylinder forconvenient installation in :and removal from the imprinting machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide support means forthe printing cylinder including a bearing :assembly comprising inunitary form with the bearing :elemen'ts quick acting lock and releasemeans whereby .the bearing assembly may be quickly and easily installedin the machine in following relation to the cylinder and :similarlyremoved to free the cylinder for removal.

Ajfurther object of the invention is to provide an imprinting machineembodying the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriouscharacteristics and mode of operation herein set forth, or theirequivalents.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in 'view as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent con- :sists of the features of construction,the parts and com lbina't'ions thereof, and the mode of operation, asherein- :afterdes cribed or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ortheir equivalents.

'In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one but obviously notnecessarily the only form of embodimentof the invention,

Fig. 1 is a detail view in front elevation, partly broken away, showinga printing cylinder and mounting therefor, in accordance with theillustrated embodiment of'the invention;

Fig; 2 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, of a locating means forthe cylinder support;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of one end of the printingcylinder and mounting means;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in longitudinal section, of a quick releasebearing assembly for the printing cylinder;

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken substantially along the line 55of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view, in perspective, of the other end of theprinting cylinder and mounting means therefor.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, roll imprinting apparatus according to theillustrated embodiment of the invention, includes a printing roll orcylinder 10 having a longitudinal through bore 11 and interchangeableprintingxelements (not shown) recessed in its surface. At itsone end thebore 11 terminates in an outwardly flaring surface 12 and at its otherend terminates in a counterbore 13. The former receives a tapered nosemember 14 of a bearing assembly 15. The latter receives the body of agear member 16 which meshes with suitable driving means, as for examplea gear 17 on a tympan roll 18 supported between side frames 19 (oneshown).

An outwardly facing surface 21 on the gear member 16 is flared like thesurface 12 at the opposite end of the cylinder and receives the taperednose 22 of a bearing assembly 23.

The bearing assemblies 15 and 23 thus engage and mutually support thecylinder 10, with the several described elements being concentricallymounted on a varying diameter shaft 24. The bearing assembly 15 ismounted on the shaft 24 inthe manner shown in Fig. 4 and to bedescribed.

The bearing assembly 23 is mounted on a guide race 7 25 on the shaft 24.In adjacent parallel relation to the guide race 25, and normal to theaxis of shaft 24, is a support plate 26 through which the shaft 24passes in a manner precluding relative bodily shifting motion of theshaft and support plate. The shaft 24 continues on beyond the plate 26and projects through a slot 27 in the frame 19, the projecting end ofthe shaft. being threaded and mounting a hand wheel sleeve 28 and. acollar 29. It will be apparent that by turning the sleeve 28, the collar29 may be pressed into frictional engagement with the frame 19, orreleased therefrom, thereby inhibiting or permitting bodily shiftingmovement of the shaft 24 and plate 26 relatively to the frame 19.

In order to accurately locate the shaft 24 relatively to the frame 19there is pivotally mounted on the frame 19 an irregularly shaped disc orcam plate 31 with which is associated a knurled knob 32 for handadjustment thereof. The plate 31 is in adjacent relation to the shaft 24in the slot 27. The shaft is held in the position defined by the plate31 through the frictional pressure of collar 29against the frame 19.

Elevating and lowering movements of the shaft 24 are effected andcontrolled by a hand wheel 33 on top of a screw post 34; The, post 34 isscrew threaded at its opposite end in a socket 35 forming a unitary partof an auxiliary plate 36 bolted or otherwise secured to the supportplate. 26. Intermediate the hand wheel 33 and the socket 35' the post 34is connected to a frame mounted bracket 37 in a manner to precluderelative axial motion of the post. Accordingly, rotary turning motion ofthe hand wheel 33 results in a raising and lowering of the auxiliaryplate 36, support plate 26, shaft 24 and associated parts. 7

Also forming a unitary part of the auxiliary plate 36 is a hanger member38 extending in parallel spaced apart relation to the shaft 24 towardthe opposite end thereof. The member 38 is constructed as a beam o'fri'gid cross section and high tensile strength; It has in its outer a II. 3 3 free end an integral, longitudinal socket 39 receiving a stubshaft 41. The shaft 41 extends outside the socket 39 and has an arm orbearing plate 42 attached thereto, at its one end. Near its other end,the arm-or bearing plate 42 has an opening 43 receiving the reduceddiameter, projecting end of the shaft 24. It will be understood that thebeam 38 is, through the plate 42, in supporting relation to the outerend of the shaft 24 or that end opposite the plate 26. The assemblycomprising the shaft 24, plate 26; auxiliary plate 36, beam 38 and plate42 is adjustable as a unit, as described, through manipulation of thehand wheel 33.

The arm or bearing plate 42 is pinned or otherwise detachably connectedto the stub shaft 41 which has a slidable and rotatable mounting in thesocket 39. By pulling on the plate 42, the shaft 41 may be partlywithdrawn from the socket 39 a distance sufficient for opening 43 tomove awayfrom and clear the end of the shaft 24. Then the plate 42 andstub shaft 41 may be rocked or swung about the axis of socket 39, toexpose the end of the shaft 24 for access to the bearing assembly 15 andthe printing cylinder 10. The stub shaft and bearing plate may bereleased for such an adjustment by manipulation of a clamp device 44installed on the side of the beam 38 and projecting laterally into thesocket 39.

For use with respect to relatively heavy cylinder installations, theremay be provided additional support for the outer end of the shaft 24 inthe form of an arm 45, one end of which is pivotally mounted at 46 to aframe mounted bracket 47. The other end of arm 45 is bifurcated andengages a rod 48 having an enlargement 49 on one'end. The rod 48 passesthrough the bearing plate 42 and has a. finger piece 51 attached to itsother end whereby the enlargement 49 may be turned to locking orreleasing position with respect to the arm 45. Engaged with the rod 48,the arm 45 supplements the beam 38 in supporting the outer end of theshaft 24.

Turning now to the bearing assembly 15, and referring to Figs. 4 and 5,such assembly comprises a sleeve 52 in surrounding relation to the shaft24, upon which a ball bearing unit 53 is pressed and held by a retainerring 54 having a screw threaded connection with the sleeve 52. Thetapered nose member 14 has a rotatable mounting on the unit 53.Outwardly of the unit 53, the sleeve 52 is formed with a radial flange55 having an annular groove 56 in its periphery. A knurled knob orcollar 57 surrounds the flange 55 and has pins 58 received in the groove56 whereby the knob 57 is connected to the sleeve 52 for unison axialbut relative rotary motions.

The knob 57 has an eccentric bore 59 in which is installed a nut 61. Thenut 61 has a relatively elongated central opening 62, having screwthreads 63 at one side thereof. The shaft 24 passes through opening 62in the nut, the area thereofsurrounded by the nut 61 having continuousscrew threads 64 thereon. As indicated in Fig. 5, the nut 61 isapproximately oval shaped, and the transverse thickness thereof in theregion of the screw threads 63 is slightly greater than the minimumdistance between the wall of bore 59 in knob 57 and the shaft 24. Thus,according to the construction and arrangement of the parts anoscillating motion of the knob 57 raises and lowers the nut 61respectively to disengage and' engage the threaded portions 63 and 64.It will be understood that when such portions are engaged, the bearingassembly is effectively locked to the shaft 24.

It will further be understood that as relative rotary motion of the knob57 is limited by reactance of the nut 61 upon the threads 64, continuedrotary motion of the knob in the same direction results in the knob andnut turning as a unit and advancing along the threads 64 of the shaft inresponse to such motion. The latter described motion of the knob 57 andnut 61 is partaken of by the sleeve 52 and associated parts since thenut 4 61 is connected to the sleeve 52 for unison rotary motion by meansof tongues 65 on the nut received in grooves 66 in the sleeve.

In changing to a different size printing cylinder, and assuming the arm45 is in use, the finger piece 51 is turned to release the arm 45 whichthen takes or is caused to take the disengaged position of Fig. 6. Thebearing plate 42 then is pulled out and swung from cooperative relationwith the shaft 24, the clamp device 44 being first loosened to permitthis adjustment. The hand wheel sleeve 28 then is turned to loosen thegripping engagement of the collar 29 with the frame 19, and, followingthis, the several elements of the cylinder supporting apparatus areraised by rotating the hand wheel 33. When this has been done the camplate 31 is turned to a new position appropriate to the diameter of thenew cylinder to be substituted, and it will be noted in this connectionthat the adjusment knob 32 is marked with numerals indicating that eachperipheral flat on the plate 31 corresponds to a particular form size.

The parts being so conditioned for removal and re= placement of theprinting cylinder, the knob 57 of assembly 15 is turned approximatelyone-half a revolution in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 5) whichserves to raise the nut 61 out of engagement with the threads 64. Theentire assembly 15 then may be slipped axially off of the outer free endof the shaft 24, following which the cylinder 16 may be similarlyremoved.

A newly selected cylinder is then installed on the shaft 24 in a reversemanner and the inner end or that first on the shaft is applied to thetapered nose bearing 22 which tends to center the cylinder on the shaft.In following relation to the printing cylinder the bearing assemblylS isreturned to position on the shaft and moved quickly therealong by handuntil the nose portion 14 abuts the flared surface 12 of the cylinder.Rotating the knurled knob 57 clockwise, the nut 61 is returned toengagement with the threads 64, and rotation of the knob in the samedirection may be continued to turn the nut 61 on the threads 64 andthereby advance the bearing assembly relatively slowly to seat theprinting cylinder firmly upon the respective bearing assemblies 15 and23.

The bearing plate 42 may now be returned to cooperative relation withthe shaft 24, and, in companion operations the arm 45 is reengaged withrod 48 and the hand wheel 33 is turned to lower the cylinder supportingapparatus until the collar 29 limits against the cam plate 31. The handwheel sleeve 28 finally is adjusted to maintain the position of theparts.

In substituting a cylinder of the same size as the one removed, theprocedure is the same as above described, except that it is notnecessary to change the setting of the cam plate 31.

As indicated in Fig. 3, the illustrative embodiment of the invention, asubstantially duplicate cylinder supporting system 67 is used. Thesecond system or train of apparatus is arranged for printing on thereverse side of the forms, it being contemplated that by the instantmechanism forms may be imprinted on the front or on the back, or on bothsides at the same time.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form proportions, detailconstruction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the inv ention is not limited to thespecific features shown, but

that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but oneofseveral modes of putting the invention into effect. i

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a roll imprinter or like device, a frame, a printing rollincluding a shaft, a mounting for one end of said shaft in said frame, aframe mounted hanger member in. parallel spaced apart relation to saidshaft, a plate suspended from said hanger member and providing a bearingfor the other end of said shaft, said plate'being disengageable fromsaid shaft andadjustable out of co operative relation therewith, aprinting cylinder in surrounding relation to said shaft, bearingassemblies on said shaft engaging the ends of said cylinder, one of saidassemblies being interposed between said cylinder and said bearingplate, and a releasable coupling between said one assembly and saidshaft.

2. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, longitudinally spacedapart bearing assemblies on said shaft, a cylinder in surroundingrelation to said shaft and having its ends cooperatively engaged withsaid bearing assemblies, a relatively stationary support for one end ofsaid shaft, a support for the other end of said shaft adjustable intoand out of cooperative relation with said other end of the shaft, and adetachable coupling connecting the bearing assembly, nearer said lastnamed support to said shaft for quick release therefrom, said last namedmeans being independent of said adjustable support and being exposed foraccess by adjustment of said adjustable support out of cooperativerelation with said other end of the shaft.

3. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, a cylinder insurrounding relation to said shaft, said cylinder having open ends,bearing assemblies on said shaft in side by side relation to saidcylinder, each of said assemblies including a tapered bearing memberreceived in an adjacent end of said cylinder, a quick connect anddisconnect coupling between one of said bearing assemblies and saidshaft whereby said one assembly may be removed from said shaft by way ofone end thereof in order that said cylinder may be similarly removed andreplaced, and supporting means for said shaft including a bearing plateadjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said one end of theshaft.

4. In a roll imprinter or like device, a shaft, a cylinder freelymounted on said shaft, a swingable bearing plate for one end of theshaft adjustable into and out of cooperative relation with said one endof the shaft for selective withdrawal and replacement of said cylinder,another plate providing a common support for said bearing plate and forthe other end of the shaft, a frame, and means for adjusting said otherplate relatively to said frame.

5. A roll imprinter or like device according to claim 4, characterizedby means for holding said other plate in selected positions ofadjustment.

6. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a support forsaid shaft, a relatively stationary frame, a connection between saidframe and said support for elfecting bodily adjustments of the assemblycomprising said support and said shaft relatively to said frame, andmeans on said frame independent of said connection limiting motion ofsaid assembly in one direction only and adjustable to maintain motionlimiting contact with said assembly in each position of bodilyadjustment thereof.

7. A roll imprinter or like device according to claim 6, characterizedin that said last named means is an irregularly shaped disc rotatablymounted on said frame with its peripheral edge in cooperative relationto said assembly.

8. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a plate membermounting one end of said shaft and lying in a plane normal to saidshaft, a frame member in adjacent parallel relation to said platemember, a connection between said frame member and said plate member formaking relative bodily adjustments of said plate member, a hanger memberforming a unitary part of said plate member and extending in parallelrelation to said shaft toward the opposite end thereof, a bearing platecarried by said hanger member providing a support for the saidoppositeend of said shaft, and a cylinder freely mounted on said shaft. i

9. A roll imprinter according to claim 3, characterized in that saidbearing plate is carried for relative sliding and rocking motions bysaid hanger member, said plate being adjustable into and out ofsupporting relation to the said opposite end of said shaft in a mannerpermitting removal and replacement of said cylinder upon said shaft byan axial sliding motion over the said opposite end of said shaft.

10. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft, a plate membermounting one end of said shaft and lying in a plane normal to saidshaft, a hanger member forming a unitary part of said plate member andextending in parallel relation to said shaft, a bearing plate mountingthe other end of said shaft and supported by said hanger member forrelative sliding and rocking motions, and an auxiliary frame mountedsupport for the said opposite end of said shaft detachably engaged withsaid bearing plate.

11. In a roll imprinter, a cylinder shaft having its one end relativelystationarily installed and its opposite end accessible for removal andreplacement. of a printing cylinder thereover, a bearing on said shaftadjacent to its said opposite end, lock-nut means connecting saidbearing to said shaft, and means for releasing said lock nut for removalof said hearing from said shaft, said bearing, said lock nut and saidlast named means: comprising an assembly removable from and replaceableon said shaft as a unit.

12. In a roll imprinter, a cylinder shaft having a relatively free endover which a cylinder may be removed from and replaced on the shaft,screw threads on the said free end of said shaft, and a bearing assemblyinstalled on said shaft in following relation to the cylinder andincluding a lock nut laterally adjustable into and out of meshingengagement with said screw threads, and eccentric means for adjustingsaid lock nut.

13. In a roll imprinter, a shaft having a relatively free end, acylinder installed on and removed from said shaft over said free end, abearing assembly installed on said shaft between said cylinder and itsopposite end, another bearing assembly installed on said shaft betweensaid cylinder and said free end of the shaft, and means foralternatively locking and releasing said other bearing assemblyrelatively to said shaft, said means being operable in the lockedposition of said other assembly to advance said other assembly axiallyalong said shaft to clamp said cylinder between the said bearingassemblies.

14. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft having arelatively free end over which a cylinder may be removed from andinstalled on said shaft, screw threads on the said free end of theshaft, and a bearing assembly installed on said shaft in followingrelation to the cylinder and including a lock nut adjustable laterallyto engage the screw threads on the shaft to lock the hearing assembly tothe shaft and rotatable While engaged with said threads to advance saidbearing assembly axially upon the adjacent end of the cylinder.

15. In a roll imprinter or like device, a cylinder shaft having arelatively free end over which a cylinder may be installed on andremoved from the shaft, screw threads on the said free end of saidshaft, a bearing installed on said shaft in following relation to thecylinder, a mounting sleeve for said bearing rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a lock nut connected to said sleeve for unison rotary andrelative sliding motions and in surrounding relation to said screwthreads, and a manipulative member rotatably mounted on said sleeve andhaving an accentric recess receiving said lock nut, said member beingadjustable toshift said lock nut laterally into and out of lockingengagement with said screw threads.

16. A roll imprinter according to claim 15, characterized in that saidlock nut and said eccentric recess have complementary surfaces operatingin response to an ini tial motionof rotary adjustment of saidmanipulative member to engage said lock nut with said screw threads, theassembly comprising said member, said .lock nut, said sleeve and saidbearing being adjustable axially along said screw threads by continuedrotary motion of saidv manipulative member after engagement of said locknut with said screw threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent -UN1TED STATES PATENTS570,928 Harding et Nov. 10, 1896 Stephenson Mar. 2, 1954

